Six months after Breonna Taylor’s shocking death, and still no charges brought against the three officers involved, Taylor’s family has announced they that reached a settlement with the city of Louisville, KY in their wrongful death suit.
The Derby City has agreed to pay the daily $12 million in addition to implementing several police reforms to reach the settlement, reports CNN. These reforms will include “a housing credit program as an incentive for officers to live in the areas they serve; the use of social workers to provide support on certain police runs; and require commanders to review and approve search warrants before seeking judicial approval.”
The family and Louisville’s Mayor Greg Fischer made the announcement during a press conference earlier this afternoon, and a spokesman for the mayor’s office confirmed that this is the highest-paid settlement the city has ever had.
Taylor’s family attorney, civil rights lawyer Ben Crump, says it may be the highest paid wrongful death suit for a Black life in American history, reports TMZ.
According to the media network, Attorney Crump calls the settlement a “landmark step on the journey to justice,” but admits there’s still a fight to be had in making sure the the officers involved— Jonathan Mattingly, Brett Hankison, and Myles Cosgrove—are held accountable for their roles in her death.
Meanwhile, Mayor Fischer says that although the city of Louisville is not admitting any wrongdoing by making this deal, he is deeply sorry for Breonna’s death.
“I cannot begin to imagine Ms. [Tamika] Palmer’s pain,” Fischer said of Taylor’s mother. “And I am deeply, deeply sorry for Breonna’s death.”
Even with a settlement in hand, it’s been 26 six weeks since Taylor’s killing, and there is still no justice or peace in the Falls City.
